Tammany Family Links

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Charropin Beach and Park

Charoppin Park was a very popular beach and park area on the Bogue Falaya River, located at the southern end of Lee Lane in Covington. According to Historian Steve Ellis, the park was created by E. L. Charropin in 1902 when he bought the Crystal Springs Hotel from the Gonthier family. The original name of the area was Crystal Springs Park

The popular resort continued in operation into the 1960's.

Click on the images to make them larger.

Area residents remember that the sand on the beach was a brilliant white, and the park was beautiful and peaceful. Local people would go there for fishing and boating, and several postcards were published featuring the facility. In the 1940's they began charging a fee for swimming to help pay for a lifeguard on duty. There was also a bathhouse and a pavilion at one time, as well as row boats available.

Young people would gather there on the weekends, enjoying the swinging rope tied to one of the trees and the crunchy white sand. The park also featured a lagoon and an inlet from the river crossed by a footbridge that led to the beach.

Below are photos from a 1926 Times Picayune article. Click on the images to make them larger.

A large home estate that is available for rent on a short term basis is located on the northern edge of the old Charropin Beach site. CLICK HERE for more information.

An aerial view of the former Charropin Beach area.

A 1939 Map of Charropin Park Area

A 1967 Survey Map of the Charropin Park area, where the name had been changed to "Share-O-Kin" Park